Wide Receiver Jordy Nelson Appears on NFL’s Top 100 of 2012

After posting 68 receptions, 1,263 yards and 15 touchdowns (all which happened to lead the team), Jordy Nelson is starting to get respect from everyone, including the NFL Network.

During last night’s broadcast of the Top 100 Players of 2012, Nelson came in at No. 80, right ahead of defensive tackle Vince Wilfork and behind cornerback Nnamdi Asomugha. While being considered the 80th best football in the NFL by the NFL Network is definitely quite the honor, there is certainly a reason for him to feel he was shortchanged.

Of the 30 players that have been revealed so far, two receivers currently rank ahead of Nelson. Cincinnati Bengals’ receiver A.J. Green came in at No. 77 and Philadelphia Eagles’ receiver came in at No. 71. There is little doubt that both Green and Jackson are extremely talented receivers, but neither comes close to what Nelson did in 2011 or what he’s likely to in 2012.

Both Green and Jackson had less yards, receptions and touchdowns than Nelson. When you combine that with the fact that Nelson was playing next to receivers like Greg Jennings, Donald Driver, James Jones, Randall Cobb and Jermichael Finley, it makes Nelson’s numbers even more impressive.

While last year’s performances are only part of the equation in deciding the Top 100 for the following year, all signs point to Nelson becoming an even bigger threat in 2013. Over the past three seasons, Nelson has quietly increased his receptions, yards and touchdowns. With Driver likely to see a decreased role with the team, Nelson will only get more looks from Aaron Rodgers, likely meaning more production.

The NFL Top 100 list has also been a hot topic of conversation in years past, and this year will certainly be no different. I’m sure Nelson is honored at being considered one of the best of the best, but there is certainly reason for him to be upset at being surpassed by two less talented receivers.

Getting back to the subject:
I was the one who said two years ago that he had the potential to mimic what Miles Austin did. Come out of nowhere and become an elite receiver. Nelson did MORE than that!!!

80 is too low for Nelson. He had the third most TD catches in the league. I can’t specify where exactly I think he belongs, but 80 is simply too low.

PackersRS

Read your article. Very well written, you make great points.

That being said, couple of things:

You lose points big time by mentioning cowherd and bayless. I understand they’re vocal critics of Rodgers, so the example is clear, but even listing their names is a disservice to the world.

And the bomb talk, to me was unnecessary. The analogy is true, and you put it very well, but something like that cannot be just brushed over. I know it’s been more than 50 years, but it’s still a very serious subject.

CSS

But keep in mind, last years list had roughly 35 skill position players listed. Take away the QB’s listed and that number fell below 30. If this years list has a comparable split of offensive and defensive players, then filter out the skill position folks, then Jordy Nelson is considered one of the top 25 skill position players in the NFL. That’s exceptional.

Still think he’s ranked too low? Also, with all due respect to Nelson, no way he has that statistical productivity without Finley and Jennings. Those numbers would be halved if he didn’t get the nickle or dime draw on most of his offensive snaps.

I love the kid, great fit for the offense. But that ranking is solid when put into perspective.

P.S. – I hate all lists.
P.S.S. – I can’t watch the reaction show afterwards, I hate Jamie Dukes more than any other NFL TV personality today.

Tarynfor12

I read your article and 100 more just like it.The end where it states that some analyst need to get a life is funny.

You proved the very reason they have a talk show and you don’t.

Oppy

Yikes, and people think I’m a tough audience

PackersRS

Nelson had 11 more touchdowns than Jackson…

To me the voting is flawed. You can’t ask a Dlinemen to assess how a WR plays…

With such a flawed system, I can’t take the results seriously…

Savage57

With apologies to Dickens, it was the best of ratings, it was the worst of ratings.

If you keep him at 80, he continues to be perceived as an anomoly and doesn’t get the attention from defenses he deserves and has another gonzo year in 2012.

If you rank him higher, consistent with his ACTUAL performance, then he gets more attention, more chatter and teams start to game plan for him. His numbers go down while freeing the other members of the aerial circus for one on one’s.

Not necessarily the worst thing in the world for the team, but for Jordy still a bit of a slight.

Personally, I wish the only time that we heard from the national media about Packers’ players in 2012 is after every one of 19 straight wins.

Matthew J Stein

I see where you’re going, but the problem with a team just focusing on Nelson is that they still have to deal with Jennings, Jones, Cobb, Driver and Finley. While those weapons around him hurt his numbers, they also help his numbers.

ScottS

I’m pretty sure that most NFL teams don’t consider rankings from the NFL Networks Top 100 Players list when they evaluate the talent of their competition. That being said, Jordy will get the attention he deserves from opposing defenses based on their evaluation of his performance. The list is purely for fan debate, not for team scouting.

http://packers.blogspot.com Brandon

This strikes me as a little too soon. I like to see a player have two consecutively strong seasons before saying he’s one of the best. Nelson finished the 2010 season strong, but it took him a while. He didn’t have his first TD reception of 2010 until a late November game against the Falcons. I expect 2012 will be another great season, though it’ll be hard to repeat 15 touchdown receptions, and then it would be an oversight if he wasn’t on the Top 100 list.

Ron LC

Rankings from a bunch of blow hard know-it-alls bores me.

http://allgbp.com Jersey Al

Ron, you’re extra cranky today…

Ron LC

Yep – trying to digest the hypocracy that is the NFLPA.

Oppy

Ron, the list of the “100 best players of 2012″ is ENTIRELY voted on by active NFL players.